Leonard P. Stark
Encyclopedia
Leonard Philip Stark is a United States district judge on the United States District Court for the District of Delaware
and formerly was a United States magistrate judge
.
in history and political science and a master's degree
in history from the University of Delaware
, all in 1991. Stark also earned a D. Phil
in politics from Magdalen College
at the University of Oxford
in 1993 as a Rhodes Scholar
. Finally, Stark earned a law degree
from Yale Law School
in 1996.
From 1996 until 1997, Stark served as a law clerk to United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Judge Walter King Stapleton
.
office of the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
. From 2002 until 2007, Stark served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Wilmington.
selected Stark to be a United States magistrate judge
in Wilmington.
In January 2009, Stark submitted his resume to Vice President Joe Biden
, expressing his interest in a federal district judgeship vacancy in Delaware. The following month, Stark submitted his information to United States Sen. Tom Carper as well. After Stark underwent nearly a year of interviews with Carper, representatives from Carper's staff, representatives from the United States Department of Justice
and the Office of White House Counsel, President Obama on March 17, 2010 nominated Stark to fill the vacancy created when President George W. Bush elevated Judge Kent A. Jordan
to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
in 2006.
By unanimous consent, the United States Senate confirmed Stark on August 5, 2010, and he received commission on August 10, 2010.
United States District Court for the District of Delaware
The United States District Court for the District of Delaware is the Federal district court having jurisdiction over the entire state of Delaware. The Court sits in Wilmington...
and formerly was a United States magistrate judge
United States magistrate judge
In the United States federal courts, magistrate judges are appointed to assist United States district court judges in the performance of their duties...
.
Early life and education
Born in Detroit, Stark earned two bachelor's degreesBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in history and political science and a master's degree
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in history from the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
, all in 1991. Stark also earned a D. Phil
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in politics from Magdalen College
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1993 as a Rhodes Scholar
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
. Finally, Stark earned a law degree
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1996.
From 1996 until 1997, Stark served as a law clerk to United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
Judge Walter King Stapleton
Walter King Stapleton
Walter King Stapleton is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He assumed senior status on June 2, 1999....
.
Professional career
From 1997 until 2001, Stark was an associate with the Wilmington, DelawareWilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
office of the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates , founded in 1948, is a prominent law firm based in New York City. With over 2,000 attorneys, it is one of the largest and highest-grossing law firms in the world. Forbes magazine calls Skadden "Wall Street's most powerful law firm"...
. From 2002 until 2007, Stark served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Wilmington.
Federal judicial service
In 2007, the judges on the United States District Court for the District of DelawareUnited States District Court for the District of Delaware
The United States District Court for the District of Delaware is the Federal district court having jurisdiction over the entire state of Delaware. The Court sits in Wilmington...
selected Stark to be a United States magistrate judge
United States magistrate judge
In the United States federal courts, magistrate judges are appointed to assist United States district court judges in the performance of their duties...
in Wilmington.
In January 2009, Stark submitted his resume to Vice President Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
, expressing his interest in a federal district judgeship vacancy in Delaware. The following month, Stark submitted his information to United States Sen. Tom Carper as well. After Stark underwent nearly a year of interviews with Carper, representatives from Carper's staff, representatives from the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
and the Office of White House Counsel, President Obama on March 17, 2010 nominated Stark to fill the vacancy created when President George W. Bush elevated Judge Kent A. Jordan
Kent A. Jordan
Kent Amos Jordan is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He was previously a federal district judge on the United States District Court for the District of Delaware....
to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
in 2006.
By unanimous consent, the United States Senate confirmed Stark on August 5, 2010, and he received commission on August 10, 2010.